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‘Proving us all wrong’ – These Everton fans show love for 20-cap ace following official club post

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Everton defender Yerry Mina has hailed his early-season form as a result of the work by Marco Silva and the support of the Goodison Park faithful, as told to the club’s official website.

The Colombian became the boss’ first-choice centre-back partner for Michael Keane following Kurt Zouma’s return to Chelsea, as the Portuguese head coach and Director of Football Marcel Brands failed to sign a replacement for the French loanee in the summer market.

Mina has started the season promisingly, though, and excelled against Watford at the weekend when Premier League football returned to the Blue half of Stanley Park, with the 6 ft 3 behemoth recording a 100% tackle success rate, eight clearances, one interception and six successful aerial duels.

Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace failed to beat the former FC Barcelona defender, either, when the Eagles were shut out in the curtain-raiser with Mina achieving a 100% tackle success rate, five clearances, three interceptions and three successful aerial duels at Selhurst Park.

The 20-cap ace has now revealed that he is feeling good in Royal Blue, and that Silva’s instructions at Finch Farm are helping him to become a formidable defender.

“I feel very good, the manager is working with me every day and giving me a lot of confidence,” he claimed. “I am understanding more what he wants all the time, and becoming more comfortable.

“This is my best football since I came to Everton, but I have to keep my focus and always work to improve.”

Mina endured an injury-ravished debut season at Goodison Park following his €30.25million (£27.19m) switch away from Catalunya a year ago, but scrapped through this summer’s Copa America without taking a knock and we will be relying on the 24-year-old staying match sharp if we are to break the top six this term.

The physicality of the Premier League offers a challenge for the centre-back, though.

“A lot of the forwards [in England] are physical, and there is no chance to rest during matches – no games when you can take it easy,” he added.

“Every team tries to win, and this is the type of football any player wants to play. It is the main job of the goalkeeper and centre-backs to keep clean sheets.

“That is what we are working to achieve every day, but we know there is still much to improve.”

There was a lot of love for Mina’s comments when posted on the club’s official Twitter feed…

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